Checkerboard type pin game



July 6, 1937. J. P. HAMEETMAN CHECKERBOARD TYPE PIN GAME 4 sheets-sheet 1 m METRI INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Filed June 7. 1955 July 6, 1937- J. P. HAMEETMANl CHEGKERB'OARD TYPE PIN GAME Filed June 7, 1955 4 SheelZS-Shee'kI 2 July 6, 1937 J. P. HAMEETMAN 2,086,327

CHEQKERBOARD TYPE PIN GAME Filed June 7, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 lo@ INVENTOR.

Jn-a5 P, #HMH-(MFM ATTORNEYS.

J. P. HAMEETMAN CHECKERBOARD TYPE PIN GAME July 6, 193 7.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 7, 1935 Pll. 1E

o o o n m. W f A w v wf/m Patented July 6, 1937 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 21 Claims.

This invention relates to a game apparatus of the type popularly known as a pin game in which a ball is propelled over the surface of an inclined game board having openings or traps through which the ball may fall. A number of pins project from the surface of said board for ball engagement and the ball is thus directed into certain openings or channels, as the case may be.

If the initial force imparted to the ball 'is suffilO cient, the ball engages a. bumper and rebounds.

If insuicient, the ball follows its normal trajectory and enters an opening or passageway, as the case may be.

The object of this invention is to produce a novel and attractive game of this general character but with this addition, that whereas in most pin games `the ball passage and subsequent action are all the matter of luck, in this instance, the game combines luck and skill and an element of 20 mental planning determining strategic play and position to beat the game. In other words,

there is an element of selective control present and available for the player to utilize and which the player must utilize in order to obtain the maximum scoring possible with the game,

This invention briefly is an adaptation of the pin game to a checker board or similar arrangement and for that purpose, the checker board or similar area constitutes the major portion of the ball playing area. Briefly, the operation of the game is as follows: Y

The ball is discharged with sufficient force in the customary manner and by the customary means into the playing area. If the force is suicient, the ball engages the bumper and is deected toward the top and center of the board and then rolls by gravity down the inclined playing surface. In the event the force is insufficient, the ball rolls directly down from the central portion of the playing area toward the bottom of the board. v

At the top of the board are positioned three holes protected by certain obstruction pins, the one to the right being one for left action and the one to the left being for right action, and the central one being for dual action, right or left, as the case may be and then left or right, alternating with each ball passing through same.

Associated with these holes are certain track circuits and an action ball so utilized is returned for further playing. Any ball which does not enter the action hole enters the secondary playingA area and the object of the game is to advancethe 55. balls from station to station along' the checker board or like area in diagonal fashion from the upper end of the board to the bottom end of the board or king or'iinal row. Four uppermost',y playing stations of kthe checker board area are so arranged that the ball is trapped at the en- 5 Y tion ball to free the playing ball so thatit can l5 4 advance to the third from the bottom king row, whence it passes through anfopening and this closes the opening so that a subsequent ball Vcan pass over the closed opening. Thus, it requires at least three balls to pass through three successive openings in the lower three rows of the checker board area before the final row opening is closed which represents the crowning of a king.

Certain hazards are included in the game so that if a ball is directed to either the right or the left at an inopportune time, the ball is lost and wasted. Twelve or fteen balls may be employed. o It -will thus be observed that both skill andv luck are required, to wit, skill in selectingy the proper action hole to play for so that one of the playing balls is not lost by being diverted to the Wasted area and so that if possible, the maximum amount of advancement of the playing ball can be obtained. For example, if the double action Vof one play was left and then right and 5 the playing ball is so positioned that another double action right and left would Waste aplayl ing ball, the player must remember which Wai,v` thelast action of thedual action occurred and not play for dual action if that would waste a 40 playing ball but try to play for the appropriate single action.

There is also an element of mental skill or planning involved which is called to action upony the completion of each ball playedeither into playing eld or action holes.- To successfully beat the game requires a planned procedure, as the game progresses, changing and calling for decisions with each play. 5

After the play has been completed by the exhaustion of all balls, thernumber of king rows which are Vclosed represent the number, of so. called winning balls. After thel play has been completed, the insertion of another coin first revi leases all balls trapped on the upper playing area of the checker board and they run down to the three lower rows of openings and discharge therethrough or pass beyond the same to the reservoir collector. Thereupon, all of the previously closed three lower row closures are automatically returned to the open position for subsequent closing in the subsequent new play. All balls are then trapped in a magazine and are presented one at a time in any conventional manner to the impulse device which, as before stated, is of conventional character. The coin is required to clear the board and return all balls to the magazine.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a device embodying the invention, the ball supplying control, the impact device and the coin receiving mechanism being omitted.

Fig. 2 is an elongated central sectional view through the device.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View taken on line 3 3 of Fig. l and in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic wiring diagram of the control track arrangement.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view and may be considered as taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a similar View and may be considered as taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged elevational View of one of the constructions shown in Fig. 5 and is taken at right angles to said gure.

Fig. 8 is a top plan View of one of the tiltable closures illustrated in Fig. 6 and in the closed position.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged top plan View of a directional retarder illustrated at the right and left hand sides of the checker board area intermediate the top and bottom thereof in Fig. 1.

Fig. l() is a bottom plan view of the actuating mechanism associated with the three rows of directional, turn-table members illustrated in Figs. 1, 5 and 7.

Fig. 11 is a bottom plan View of one form of control mechanism for tilting all of the three rows of closure members shown in Figs. 1, 6

l and 8.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 and of a modified form of control mechanism.

Fig. 13 is a view taken at right angles to Fig.

i 12 and illustrates the mechanism for selective tilting at the proper time of the three king ro-w closures and into open position.

Fig. 14 is a sectional View of the same mechanism taken at right angles to Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is an elevational view similar to Fig. rI and of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 16 is a top plan View of the upper half of a modied form of playing area.

In the drawings I indicates the lower end, II the top or upper end and I2 the two sides of .a container having the bottom closure I3, a playing board I4 inclined relative to the bottom closure I3 and the playing board is protected by the glass I or the like, in a conventional manner.

Positioned in spaced relation beneath the playing bo-ard is an underboard I6 and beneath the same is a track structure support I'I and .I8 to which reference will be had more fully hereinafter.

Associated with the playing board is the border I9, the upper curved portion of which forms a path for the projected ball to follow. The ball is projected from the channel 26 provided by a partition member 2I through the impact member 22 slidably associated as at 23 with the low.- er end I0. Member 22 terminates in the iinger piece 24 which, when pulled toward the player and then released to a springnot shown-causes the member 22 to engage the ball and catapult it out of the channel 20 with the desired force. Any form of impact catapult device may be provided, there being many standard forms available.

Also supported by the lower end member I6, is a coin mechanism including a supporting member or bracket 25 which slidably supports a coin receiving member 26. 'I'he coin is received by the member 26 and is forced inwardly and the coin thereupon engages a slidable member 28 which herein is shown provided with an adjustable contact member 29 for engaging a depending portion 30 carried by the underboard I 6. The underboard by means of the spring 3I is normally constrained toward the lowered position but is forcibly moved therefrom by said engagement of members 29 and 30 when the member 26 with a coin therein is forced inwardly. After the member 26 has been forced inwardly and the underboard has been moved upwardly to the full extent of the movement possible and then is returned by the spring 3l, the coin passes downwardly and outwardly until it is exposed as at 32 and subsequent coins are successively exposed. Thereafter the coin passes into the coin box within the container.

The numeral 33 indicates a channel or magazine, as it were, which receives all of the balls at the proper time when the machine is reset for play by the insertion of a nickel or suitable coin or for all of the action balls which are to be returned for replay. A suitable transfer device, not shown, is provided which will transfer a ball from the magazine 33 to the channel 20 immediately ahead of the plunger 22 and these are successively supplied to the channel through the opening 34.

The ball which has been projected by the plunger 22 from the channel 26, if having sufiicient speed, engages the bumper 35 and is thereupon forced upwardly and centrally into the upper playing area toward the action holes. The right hand hole in the playing board is designated by the numeral 36 and will secure left hand action. The left hand hole 31 is arranged to provide right hand action. The intermediate and uppermost hole 38 is arranged to secure dual action, right and left or left angd right, respectively, alternating with each ball played through said hole, as the case may be, through the instrumentality in each instance of the action ball subsequently closing an appropriate circuit for operating a control device. 'Ihese holes are suitably protected by guard pins 39.

The main body portion of the playing board is herein shown laid out as a checker board with the usual number of stations. The object of the game is to advance playing balls diagonally to the king row without the unnecessary loss of a playing ball and through the instrumentality of an action ball.

In alignment with each of the entrance stations passages BBi and BBZ.

of the checker board is a channel 48 protected by suitable guard pins 4| and by guard members 42. For securing directional travel of the ball, a guide block 43 prevents the ball from advancing into any other but the entrance block or station. If the ball does not enter one of the channels 48 but passes downwardly along the side of the playing board below the bumper 35 or alongside the partition 2 i, the ball engages in the channel 44 or 45, respectively, which terminates in a reservoir opening 48 that permits the balls to pass to either collect in the reservoir and be retained therein until the end of the play or permits them to discharge to a trapping device so they are held out of subsequent play until the machine is reset by the insertion of another coin. This portion of the mechanism is conventional and well understood, and no further vdescription need be supplied therefor.

All balls are alike as to size and the designation action, playing, free and waste refens to the function of the ball.

Herein the entrance playing stations have been designated by the letters A, B, C and "D and each is connected by channels A! A2, B i, B2, Cl, C2, and Dl to the next playing squares E, E', G and H. Channel D2 is an upper continuation of channel 45. Channel El is a continuation of channel 44. Channels E2, Pi, P2, Gl, G2, Hi and H2 all discharge to the respective playing stations J, K, L and M. Leading to the left of station J is a right angle passage or groove J i. Leading to the right is a similar one J 2 and these two join at the station N. Similarly leading from the station K are angular channels Ki and K2 joining at the station O. Also leading from the station L are channels Li and L2 of the sarne character joining at the station P. Channel Mi leads to the station Q and is continued to the station R. Associated with the station I and with the station Q are directional retarders to which reference will be had later and which are illustrated in Fig. 9.

Passage M2 is a branch of the passage 45. The next to the last row has playing stations V, W, X and Y. The king row stations are designated by letters AA, BB, CC and DD, while the third row from the bottom has its playing stations designated by letters R, S, T and U, reading from right to left. Passage Ui is a branch of passage 44. Passage AAi is a branch of the same. Likewise, passage Y2 is a branch ci passage Passage NI leads from station N to station U. Passages N2 and Ol lead to station T. Passages O2 and Pl lead to station S. Passages P8 and Qi lead to station R. Passage U2 leads from station U to station V. Passage Ti also leads thereto. Passages TE and Si lead to station W. Passages S2 and Ri lead to station X, while passage B2 leads only to station Y. Passage Vi leads to station AA in the king row. Passages V and Wi lead to station BB in the king row. Passages W2 and X! lead to station CC in the king row. Passages X2 and Yi lead to station DD in the king row. Leading from king row station BB are the From the station CC are the passages CCi and CS2. From the square DD are the passages DD and DD2. These discharge balls, when the passages are completely closed, which enter the king row and into the lower playing area oi the board; whence, they are subsequently discharged either directly to the reservoir 4B or dischargeinto the passages 44 and/ or 45 and thence to the reservoir. These balls are wasted, that is, they cannot be replayed.

Positioned beneath the playing board i4 and adjacent the holes 38, 31 and 38 is a suitable ball receiving structure having the track portions 41, 4.8, 48 and 50, 41 and 48 being spacedl apart .by the partition 52a and tracks 49 and 58 being spaced apart by the partition 5l. See Fig. 3.

' Positioned in registration with the opening 38 is a tiltable device having anelongated upper portion 52 and two arm portions 58, said device being pivoted as at 54 and being of such a character that it, when engaged by a ball passing through the opening 38, will be tilted right or left, depending upon how the initial ball engages member .52. The ball as it leaves the guiding portion 53, tilts the memberk on the pivot 54 so that the next ball will pass into the other channel or track, whereupon it, engaging the opposite arm, will tilt the member 52 for opposite ball travel for the subsequent ball. Thus, a pair of balls passed through opening 38 in succession will be diverted either to track 48 and then track 48 or track 49 and then track 48.

Communicating with each of the respective track portions 41, 48, 48 and 58, are the tracks 41a., 48a, 48a and 50a. Positioned in each of these four tracks are suitable electrical contacts. In track 41a are the spaced contacts 55. Positioned in track 4801.l are the pairs of spaced contacts 56 and 51. pairs of spaced contacts 58 and 58. Positioned in track 58a are the spaced contacts 5D. These are metallic contacts. They are spaced just far enough apart so as to offer no obstruction to the rolling of the ball in the track and yet the metallic ball completes the circuit across the two con-V tacts.

Reference will now be had to Fig. 4'. The numeral 8i indicates a suitable source of electrical energy, such as dry cells and the like, which may be conveniently placed near the upper end and below the playing board and in the container. They are not shown in Fig. 2.

Positioned in track V49a are the A wire 62 is branched and connects to one solenoid 53 and to another solenoid 84. Another line 65 from the source of energy connects bythe branch 65 to one track contact 51, in turn connected by the line 81 to a track contact 55, in

turn connected by the line 58 to the track contact 58.y Another branch 58 of the line 85 connects to one of the track contacts 5S, in turn connected by the line 18 to the track contact 88 and connected in turn by the line 1i to one of the track contacts 58. The aforesaid is common to either solenoid.

A line i2 is connected to one terminal of the solenoid 83 and connects to the other track contact 51, in turn connected by line 'E3 to the other track Contact 55, in turn connected by line i4 to the other track contact 58. This completes the circuit for solenoid 83. A line 15 from the other terminal of the solenoid 64 connects to the other track contact 55, in turn connected by line 'i5 to the other track contact 58. The other track contact is connected'by the line 11 to the other track contact 58.

Any action ball which falls through opening 31 falls into track 41, rolls down Vtrackway 41a and closes the circuit through the contacts 55 to energize the solenoid 84. A ball which falls through opening 38 and if it is deflected by the tiltable member 52 to track 48, rolls down track 48a and rst closes the circuitl across Contact 56 which energizes solenoid 54 and then closes the the circuit across contacts 58 to energize solenoid 63 and then closes the circuit across contacts 59 to energize solenoid 64. In other words, the two solenoids in each instance are energized in succession but depending upon which way the ball is deflected, the sequence of energization is determined as aforesaid. If the ball passes through opening 36 it rolls down track 50a, closes the circuit across contacts B0 to energize solenoid B3.

All the balls, it will be understood, which fall into the trackways are called action balls and they run the complete length of the trackways, and are discharged to the playing magazine for replay purposes so that the action ball is not lost to play, whereas waste balls are lost to' play. Playing balls, if advanced to the three lower king rows by closing the openings in the playing stations U to Y and AA to DD, inclusive, preferably are lost to play after they have served their function. Any playing ball, of course, which discharges from playing station U, AA and Y through passages UI, AAI and Y2, are lost to play. Also, any ball which passes over a closed opening in squares BB, CC and DD is lost to play.

Reference will now be had to Figs. 5, 7, 8 and l0 as well as Fig. 2. Each of the playing stations A to H and J to M, inclusive, is provided with a circular opening I8 which is enlarged as at 18a. A supplementary board or base 'I9 is suitably secured in spaced relation to the playing board I4 as at 80. An oscillatable or turn-table member 8| having the ball passage or groove portion 8|a is nested in the opening 18-8a and projecting downwardly therefrom is the stem 8Ib, and rigid therewith is an arm 82.

The lower end 8Ic of the stem 8 Ib is aligned in an opening 79a in the base 'I9 and the projecting end BICI of the stem mounts a suitable retainer structure 83. Thus, when the arm 82 is moved to the right or left, the turn-table member 8| with its ball groove Sia is turned 45 to the right or let, as the case may be, or to the right and left or left and right, depending upon whether right action, left action or right and left or left and right action is obtained through the action ball closing the proper circuit, or circuits, of the solenoids.

Reference will now be had to Fig. l0. In this iigure, one solenoid 63 is provided with an armature Sli pivoteol at 85 and pivotally connected at 8B to a bar 8l. Two other` bars 88 and 89 are parallel thereto and all of said bars 8'I, 88 and 89 are connected by means of the arms 82 of the res eetive turn-table members 8| for securing the desired directional 45 turning or turning. A spring 90 normally constrains the mechanism toward neutral position.

Another armature 9| for solenoid B4 is pivoted as at 02 and is pivotally connected as at 93 to a link 94, in turn pivotally connected by link to bar 8l as at 8S. When the solenoid Bil is energized, lever 9| or the armature is drawn toward the solenoid and it moves the rod 81 in the direction of the solenoid; thus, turning all of the arms 82 of the respective turn-table members 8|.

This is because the three bars 81, 88 and 89 are suitably connected together by the cross-tie bars 90. When the solenoid 63 is energized, the bar 8l is caused to move in a direction opposite that just mentioned, which serves to turn each of the members 8|, 45 from thel neutral or central position. Also shown in Fig. 10 is the spring 9'I. The two springs 90 and 9'I are balanced so that the mechanism always is returned to the neutral position after' the respective solenoid is deenergized.

Whenever it is desired, a positive ball releasing means is provided and herein the same is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 7. In such gures, the member 8| is shown provided with a wall or recess 98 and a pin 99 is rotatably and slidably mounted therein. The pin 99 carries a projecting arm |00 which is vertically slidable in the slot |0| in the stem extension 8Ib of the member 8|.

A cam |02 of dual character is mounted by means of the plate portion |03 and screws |04 to the base 19. As the arm 82 is rotated in one direction or the other, depending upon which solenoid is energized, the rotation of member 8| and the member 99 therewith and by reason of the projection |00 engaging cam |02 and lying in slot I0 I, causes member 99 to project into the groove or passage 8Ia. Said member 99 and the initiation of the directional member of the arm 82 is sufficient to start the trapped playing ball rolling from one playing station to the next playing square or station.

The playing ball which has been held in a playing station in the last of three upper rows, then released by the groove 8|a. being aligned with the diagonal passage leading from that station, rolls down the aligned passage toy the next turning member or to a waste channel or to the lower three rows of playing station having openings. rihe timing is such that by the time the ball reaches the next station, the turning member 8| will have its pin 99 projected into the path of the ball and serve as a stop, even if the track -itself does not serve suiciently as a stop. It will, of course, be understood that the amount of momentum that the ball acquires in moving from one playing station to the next, which playing stations are provided with turning members, is very slight so that the time sequence is not a factor if the duration of energization is properly determined.

In the event dual action is obtained-see Fig. l-the playing ball is passed by the rst action from, let us say, one of the uppermost playing stations to another playing station in the second row and either to the right or left, unless the playing ball has passed along passage D2. Then, when the second energization occurs by reason of the dual action arrangement, the playing ball continues its travel but if it has traveled to the right the rst time, this time it travels to the left.

It may so happen that either by single action or dual action, two playing balls are released from the third row for unobstructed travel toward one side of the board or the other and should that occur, then the ball running down passageway JI or QI engages a retarding construction in the form of a delayed acting device. It temporarily retards the ball having the angular path so that the ball having the straight path can proceed to the next station and function. In other words, there will be no interference between playing balls.

One form of this device is shown in Fig. 9. It consists of the U-shaped element |05 pivoted as at |06 and the shaft |06 extends through the playing board I4 and on its lower end carries an arm |01 which is normally constrained by means of spring |08 anchored as at |09 to the undersurface of the playing board I4 to normally constrain the U-shaped member |05 into the receiving position. When the playing ball passes down passage QI, it engages the U-shapedmember and in opposition to the spring tilts the member so that in its nal position, as shown by the dotted line, the ball is released from the U-shaped member and proceeds down the track QI at substantially right angles to its previous direction of movement. Following release of the ball so temporarily trapped, spring |08 returns the U- shaped member |65 or retarder to its original position for subsequent operation.

It will be apparentJ up to this point the first requisite is to position a playing ball in one of the passages 40 and then to utilize action balls to advance the playing ball, or balls, from playing station to playing station in successive rows until the ball rolls into passages Ni, N2, OI, O2, PI, P2 or QI. Any playing ball passing into these passages immediately passes through an opening in the third lowermost row of playing stationsandby passing through that opening, the ball closes the opening for the subsequent passage of other playing balls. As stated, in the preferred form of the game these closure closing ballsarewasted. They may, however, be returned for replay. A separate reservoir in that instance, whichdischarges to the playing magazine, will be necessary instead of discharging to the waste ball magazine. Reference will now be had to Figs. 6, 8 and 1l. Each of the playing stations of the three lowermost rows includes an opening III enlarged as at I I la. A circular closure ||2 includes two grooves or ball passages which cross each other as at |I2a. An ear ||3 is pvotally supported by pivot member I I4 supported in turn by the spaced ears IIE of the member ||6 secured as at to the under surface of the playing board I4. The ear ||3 is extended as at 8 to form a counterweight and the upper portion of the ear is laterally enlarged as at IIB to form a ball engaging area. The playing ball, as it rolls into the aforesaid opening, engages the portion I 9 and the added weight of the ball is -suiicient to tilt the closure ||2 on its pivot I I4 and as the ball drops through the opening III, the closureV ||2 closes the opening in the playingstation. It is to be understood the counterbalanced portion 8 is just sumcient to balance the closure, the additional weight of the ball being sufcient to over-V balance the same. It is also to be understood that the closures I2 when positioned in normally open position, are approximately 3 beyond the vertical.

A playing ball which has been progressively advanced across the board to the third lowermost row when it drops through the opening, tilts the closure therefor to close the opening and provides a complete passage to either passage UI or to the appropriate playing station V to Y, inclusive. A second ball so advanced, if it passes over a closed opening, then closes a second opening in the second lowermost row. A third ball, all of these being playing balls, if it is released by an action ball from the third lowest row of the turning member provided playing stations, rolls down and closes the opening in the king row unless it passes down the passage Y2, whereupon it is wasted.

The object of the game, as before stated, is to close all four openings inthe lower king row. This can only be done by the player bearing in mind the sequence of action when dual action is obtained or desirable and by the player playing for right or left hand action as the case may be, so as to divert the balls for single action from discharging through any on@ Qi the passages EI,

UI, AAI, Y2, M2 and D2 to the waste ball reservoir. Upon exhaustion of all free balls the player has finished the play provided by the coin.

In the aforesaid, action play refers to a ball passing through one of the openings 36, 3l or 38. A playing ball is one which is advanced across the board. A waste ball is one that may have heretofore been a playing ball or a ball which has passed directly to the waste reservoir by means of the passage 44 or 45. A waste ball in a certain form of the invention may also be a playing ballv which has been successively advanced through the first three rows and then has been utilized for closing one of the openings'in the lower three rows, providing these particular playing and closing balls are not utilized for replay. If they are utilized for replay instead of being removed from the play, then they are free balls. The action balls being returned for replay are termed "free balls. All balls at the start of the play naturally are free ballsthat is, available for play.

After the exhaustion of all free balls,certain of the lower three rows of openings will be closed and it is entirely possible that certain balls will be trapped in the upper three rows of playing squares of the checker board. These balls remain on the board until thernext game. Upon the insertion of the coin in the coin member aforesaid, the underboard |6--see Fig. 2-is caused to move upwardly or'toward theupper end of the compartment. k The upperY end of said board carries a switch member |20 and the same at the end of the upward movement of the underboard bridges contacts |21, carried by the support |22, in turn supported by the playingboard asat |23. This closes a circuit through one of the solenoids to position the turning members in releasing relation. Thereupon' all of the playing balls trapped on the upper three stations of the checker board are released and roll down-the board. Herein line |24 Vis connected to line 65 and the line |25 is connected to line 12, the twoV lines being bridged by the switch vmember |20 for clearing the upper board.

After all the balls that were trapped in the upper three rows of playing stations on the checker board have passed downwardly, they will have closed certain of the openings inthe lower three rows of playing stations. When the'mernber 2E is released, the spring 3| becomes operative to return the under board to its original position and this returning movement is utilized toA open all of the openings of the three lower rows' playing stations provided with closures.

One form of mechanism therefor includes a pair of plates |26 which are providedwith slots |21 in which are mounted headed pins or guides |28 suitably secured to the side of a. support member carried by the under board or directly by the sides I2. In the present invention, the' latter type of mounting is illustrated in Fig. 11.

Each plate |26 is normally constrained by a spring |29 to the retracted position. Three rods |30 extend from plate to plate. They .lie to the right-see Fig. 2-of the counterweight portions H8 of the closures. Thus, vthe closing'rods `I3!) do not interfere with the individual closing of any opening by the respective closure I |2. Y

On the upper surface of the underboard 'at each side thereof, is secured a yieldingY or spring cam |31. Pivotally supported on the side I2, as at |32, is a lever |33 which carries at its upper end a pin |34 that rides in a vertical slot |35'in the plate |26. The lower Yend of the leveris tapered as at |36. As the board moves upward toward the forward end of the initial clearing action, the spring cam I3I is ineffective upon the lever |33. On the return movement, however, the end |36 of the lever |33 engages the offset portion |31 of the spring cam member I3I which tilts counterclockwise the lever |33 on its pivot I 32-see Fig. 2. This moves the plate |26 toward the upper end I I, which moves, since both plates are similarly actuated, the three opening rods I 30 in a similar direction and at the end of the movement, which is near to the return of the underboard to the initial position shown in Fig. 2, all of the rods have tilted all of the closures into open position, as shown in Fig. 6. Then the springs |29, when the underboard comes to rest in the position shown in Fig. 2, returns the rods |30 to the position shown in Fig. 2 but leaves all the closures in the open or upward tilted position, as shown in Fig. 6.

In Figs. 12 to 14, inclusive, a modified form of the last mentioned construction is illustrated and in said figures, I2 indicates the sides of the container, I4 the playing board, I6 the under board. In this form of the invention, the closures are of the same character as previously indicated. 'Ihe three closing rods 230 adjacent each counterbalance, are offset as at 23M. Each of the rods is pivotally supported by a bracket or plate 226 and by spaced plates 221 suitably secured to the underside of the playing board as at 228 and 229, respectively.

Between the two spaced plates 221 are pivotally supported a. pair of idler gears 23| which mesh with the end gears 232 carried by the two outside rods 230 and the main gear 233 carried by the intermediate rod 230. The under board has secured to it at 234 the plate 235 with an upward projection 236 which has an inclined face 231. Plate 221 also pivotally Supports a segmental gear 238 and coaxial with the gear is an arm 239. mental gear.

A spring 24| normally draws the arm 239 into engagement with the stop 240. On the upward movement or movement to the left in Fig. 2 of the underboard, the projection 236 tilts the arm 239 clockwise and due toy the cam face 231 permits the member 236 to pass therebeneath and beyond.

Upon the return movement due to the spring 3|, the member 236 engages the arm 239 and tilts the arm counterclockwise until it picks up the segmental gear 238 by engaging the pin 240 thereof, whereupon the arm and the pin rotate counter-clockwise together. This counterclockwise rotation causes the segmental gear to engage in meshing relation with the gear 233 to rotate all of the gears and in this manner the rods 230 are rotated so their oifsetportions are caused to rotate the counterbalance portions I|8 of the closure II2 in a clockwise direction until all the closures are fully tilted into the open position, slightly over center. Approximately at the end of this movement, the lever arm 239 is released from the actuating member 236 and following that release, the rods 230 are returned to the original position so that their offset Dortions will not interfere with the subsequent individual closing movement of the closures and thus prevent individual closing of the openings. Rigid with gear 238 is an arm 242 which is connected to one end of a returning spring 243 anchored at its opposite end to a plate 221 as at 244. Arm 242 normally engages stop 245 carried by plate 221. In the underboard initial move- A pin 240 is carried by the seg-` ment no rotation of gear 238 is permitted because of stop 245. segmental gear 238 is rotated upon reverse underboard movement in opposition to spring 243' and when members 236 and 239 are disengaged near the end of the underboard, return movement of spring 243 returns segmental gear 238 and all rods 230 to non-interfering position. As stated, the form of the invention shown in Figs. 2 and 11 is the preferred form, because it is the simplest form.

In Fig. 15 is illustrated a modified form of ball impeller. Numerals of the one hundred series similar to those found in Fig. 7 refer to similar parts.

In this form, the turntable IBI has the passageway I8Ia therein and a depending stem I8Ib with a lower threaded end I8Ia exposed by underboard I 19. The turntable is mounted in opening |18 in playing board II4. Arm |82 is actuated by member |88 for turning member I9I to the right or left from neutral position. The assembly is retained by the nut |83. In this instance, bore |98 extends entirely through member I8| and the lower exposed end of pin |99 is contactable. by member 202 'when actuated to project the pin into ball engagement for imparting acceleration to the playing ball trapped on and by the turntable. Stern I8Ib includes slot 20| from which projects member 203 connected by spring 20|a to member |82. when energized raises member 292 to elevate pin |99. When deenergized tension spring 20|a returns pin |99 to nested position. Member 202 returns by gravity.

The circuit wires AC and BC-see Fig. 4-are arranged to be connected to the source of energy 6I by multiple switch DC being closed by movement of member 81--see Fig. 10. Each pin |99 has its own solenoid and all are simultaneously energized. In Fig. 4 only one row of four solenoids is illustrated. The other two rows would be similarly connected.

In Fig. 16 is illustrated a modification of the three upper rows of playing stations, turntables and modified passages. In Fig. 1 passages 40 tc the first row are centrally positioned relative to each entrance playing station and each diagonal passage therebeneath is directed from corner to corner. agonal passage enters Ythe diagonally arranged next lower playing station at the center position but leaves the upper station as before-to Wit, at the corner. In Fig. 16, for clearance, the outlines of the stations are omitted.

While the invention has been set forth in considerable detail in the foregoing specication, it is to be understood the same is illustrative and not restrictive in character.

Various modifications of the structure have been illustrated and described and others have been referred to. Also various modifications and methods or styles of play have been suggested and all s'uch modifications are considered to be within the broad sco-pe of the invention, reference being had not only to the appended claims but to a pin game combining luck and skill, as ex emplied by the aforesaid disclosure, wherein selective directional play can be obtained and must be borne in mind in order to obtain the maximum score. The chief feature consists in the combination of this selective directional play and the advancement step by step, all through the utilization of action balls.

The invention claimed isz- 1. In a ball game, the combination with an in- Solenoid 203 '1 In this form of the invention each di clined playing boardwa plurality of balls, and anv impact member for the balls, of a playing area on the board and having diagonally arranged playing stations arranged in a plurality of rows, certain of said stations having openings therein for ball passage, tiltable closures for said openings and operable by ball engagement to close the same, turn-table members -operatively associated with certain other playing stations for directional diversion of a ball from one turntable provided station to either of two diagonal stations in the next lower row, and means for selectively turning said turn-table.

2. A device as defined by claim l, characterized by the addition of means operable by another ball for automatically operating said turning means to advance .a ball from one playing station to another.

3. In a ball game, the combination with an inclined playing board, a plurality of balls, and an impact member for the balls, of a playing area on the board and having diagonally arranged playing stations arranged in a plurality of rows, turn-table members for a plurality of playing stations in one row, means connecting the turn-table members for simultaneous turning of all connected turn-table members, and means for actuating said connecting means for turning said turn-tables to the right or left, each turn-table having a ball track thereon diametrically positioned relative to the same, said turn-table members directionally diverting a ball from one turn-table provided station to either of two diagonally playing stations in the next 1 lower row.

4. In a ball game, the combination with an inclined playing board, a plurality of balls, and an impact member for the balls, of a playing area on the board and having diagonally arranged playing stations arranged in aV plurality of rows, turn-table members operatively associated with a plurality of playing stations in each row of a plurality of successive rows, each turntable having a diametrically positioned ball passage for directional diversion of a ball from one turn-table provided station to either of two diagonally positioned turn-table provi-ded playing stations in the next lower row, means for selectively turning all turn-tables to the right or left, and means for selectively actuating said turning means.

5. In a ball game. the combination with an inclined playing board,a plurality of balls, and an impact member for the balls, or" a playing area on the board and having diagonally arranged playing stations arranged in a plurality of rows, turn-table members operatively associated with a plurality of playing stations in each row of a plurality of successive rows, each turntable having a diametrically positioned ball passage for directional diversion of a ball from one turn-table provided station to either of two diagonally positioned turn-table provided playing stations in the next lower row, means for selectively turning all turn-tables to the right or left,

and means for selectively actuating said turn' ing means, said selective turning means being ball operable for turning in succession the turn-table members in opposite directions from the normal position.

6. In a ball game, the combination withan inclined playing board, a plurality of balls, and an impact member for the balls, of a playing area on the board and having diagonally arranged playing stations arranged in a plurality of rows, turntable members operatively associated with a Vplurality of playing stations in each row of a plurality of successive rows, each turn-table having a diametrically positioned ball passage for directionalv diversion of a ball from one turntable provided station to either of'two diagonally positioned turn-table provided playing stations in the next lower row, means for selectively turning all turn-tables to the right or left, and means for selectively actuating said turning means, said se lective turning means being successively operable by a plurality of balls, each last mentioned ball operatively turning in succession the turn-table members in opposite directions from the normal position and each successive turning means actuating ball similarly operatively turning said turntable members, the initial turning thereof being in the same direction.

inclined playing board, a plurality of balls, and an impact member for the balls, of a playing area on the board and having diagonally arranged playing stations arranged in a plurality of rows, a plurality of playing stations in a plurality of successive rows having openings therein for ball passage, a suitable closure for each opening, each closure in the upper row having a ball passage on the upper surface there-of and tiltable to closed position by ball passage through the opening,` the closure upon closing by a preceding ball providing a pathway for a succeeding ball to pass over the opening, and means normally in non-interfering position relative to the closure closing movement and adapted for movement to simultaneously tilt all closed closures to the open position. Y

8. In a ball game, the combination with an inclined playing board, a plurality of balls, and an impact member for the balls, of a playing area on the board and having'diagonally arranged playing stations arranged in a plurality of rows, a waste ball reservoir belovrrthe playing area, a passage leading thereto in the face of the board, turntable members operatively associated with certain playing stations for directional diversion of a ball from one turn-table provided playing station to either of two diagonal playing stations in the next lower row, a passage leading from Ythe first mentioned passage to one of the turn-table provided stations, whereby the turntablerwhen turned into predetermined position registering with the last mentioned passagerdi` verts a ball from the playing area to the waste ball reservoir.

9. In a ball game, the combination with an inclined playing board, a plurality of balls, and an impact member for the balls, of a playing area on the board andhaving diagonally arranged playing stations arranged in a plurality of rows, a waste ball reservoir below the playing area, a passage on the board communicating therewith, a passage leading from one side playing station to the passage, an opening in said last mentioned playing station, and a tiltable closure for said opening and ball operable into closed position and having a ball passageway on the upper surface thereof and registering with the second mentioned passage for diversion ofV a second ball to the waste ball reservoir after a previous ball has closed the opening.

l0. In a ball game, the combination with an inclined playing board, a plurality of balls, and an impact member for the balls, of a playing-area on the board and having diagonally arranged playing stations arranged in a plurality of rows,

passageways leading from station to station in successive rows, one of said passages being directed downwardly and outwardly toward the side of the playing area and thence inwardly and downwardly therefrom, another passageway parallel to the rst mentioned portion of the last mentioned passage way and intersecting the last mentioned portion of the rst mentioned passageway, means for temporarily retaining playing balls on playing stations at the upper ends of said passage ways and simultaneously movable to release the balls for passage way travel, and ball retarding means operatively associated with the rst mentioned passageway at the turn thereof and normally constrained to ball receiving position and movable by the ball into ball releasing position for temporarily retarding the movement of the ball in the angular passage such that the last mentioned ball arrives at the intersection after a ball in the second mentioned passageway has passed the intersection.

11. In a ball game, the combination with an inclined playing board, a plurality of balls, and an impact member for the balls, of a playing area on the board and having diagonally arranged playing stations arranged in` a plurality of rows, a ball passage in each station and leading to adjacent stations in the next lower row, a ball impeller normally nested in the passage of the playing station last mentioned, and ball operable means for projecting the ball impeller from nested to ball engaging position to initiate movement of the retained ball for it to move to a station in the next lower row.

12. In a ball game, the combination with an inclined playing board, a plurality of balls, and an impact member for the balls., of a playing area on the board and having diagonally arranged playing stations arranged in a plurality of rows, turn-table members operatively associated with a plurality of playing stations in each row of a plurality of successive rows, each turn-table having a diametrically positioned ball passage for directional diversion of a, ball from one turn-table provided station to either of two diagonally positioned turn-table provided stations in the next lower row, a ball impeller normally nested in the turn-table passage for ball acceleration to the next playing station, means for selectively turning all turn-tables to the right or left, and means operable in said turning for projecting the ball impeller into ball engaging -position in the turntable passageways.

13. In a ball game, the combination with an inclined playing board, a plurality of balls, and an impact member for the balls, of a playing area on the board and having diagonally arranged playing stations arranged in a plurality of rows, turntable members operatively associated with a plurality of playing stations in one row, each turntable having a diametrically positioned. ball passage for directional diversion of a ball from one turn-table provided station to either of two diagonally positioned playing stations in the next lower row, diagonally positioned passageways leading from one playing station to another, a ball impeller for each turn-table provided station and normally nested in the diametrical passage for ball acceleration, and means selectively turning all turn-table members to the right or left and automatically projecting all ball impellers into ball engaging position in the diametrical passageways.

14. In a ball game, the combination with an inclined playing board, a plurality of balls, and an impact member for the balls, of a playing area on the board and having diagonally arranged playing stations arranged in a plurality of rows, said playing board having a pair of action openings, turn-table members operatively associated with certain playing stations for directional diversion of a playing ball from one turntable provided station to either of two diagonal stations in the next lower row, means connecting all of said turn-table members for simultaneous movement, and ball operable means in juxtaposition to each of said holes for selectively operating said turning means.

15. In a ball game, the combination with an inclined playing board, a plurality of balls, and an impact member for the balls, of a playing area on the board and having diagonally arranged playing stations arranged in a plurality of rows, said playing board having a single opening for dual action, turn-table members operatively associated with a plurality of playing stations in a plurality oi successive rows, each turn-table having a diametrically positioned passage for directional diversion of a ball from one turn-table provided station to either of two diagonal stations in the next lower row, means connecting all of said turn-table members together for simultaneous movement, and ball operable means in juxtaposition to said dual action opening and operatively connected to said turn-table connecting means for successively turning all turntables in one direction, and after a predetermined interval in the opposite direction, said turn-tables being operatively constrained toward neutral position.

16. A device as defined by claim 15, characl terized by the ball operable means including a pair of means for actuating the turn-table actuating means, each pair of means being adapted to successively actuate the turn-table actuating means in opposite directions in succession, one being arranged for right and left hand turning and the other being arranged for left and right hand turning, and the addition of an action ball diverter adjacent the dual action opening for automatically diverting an action ball t one of said pairs of means and ball conditioned for automatically diverting a successive-action ball passed through the opening to the other of said pair of means.

17. A device as defined by claim 15, characterized by the ball operable means including a pair of means for actuating the turn-table actuating means, each pair of means being adapted to successively actuate the turn-table actuating means in opposite directions in succession, one being arranged for right and left hand turning and the other being arranged for left and right hand turning, and the addition of an action ball diverter adjacent the dual action opening for automatically diverting an action ball to one of said pairs of means and ball conditioned for automatically diverting a successive action ball passed through the opening to the other of said pair of means, said playing board having a pair of action openings, and means in juxtaposition to each of said last mentioned holes and operatively associated with the turn-table turning means for selectively actuating the same, one of said last mentioned juxtapositioned means securing right hand turning of the turn-tables and the other securing left hand turning of the turntables.

18. A device as dened by claim 15, characterized by said playing board having a pair of action holes, and the addition of means in juxtaposition to each of said last mentioned pair of holes and operatively associated with the turntable turning means, one of said last mentioned juxtapositioned means being arranged to turn the turn-tables to the right and the other being arranged to turn the turn-tables to the left.

19. In a ball game, the combination with an inclined playing board, a plurality of balls, and

an impact member for the balls, of a playing area on the board and having diagonally arranged playing stations arranged in a plurality of rows, a waste ball reservoir near the bottom of said board, a ball passage leading from each of the lowermost playing stations toward the waste reservoir, each lowermost playing station having an opening therein, a suitable closure for each opening and tiltable to closed position by ball passage through the opening, said closure having a ball passage on the upper surface thereof and registering with the rst mentioned passage when the closure is in closed position for diverting a second ball to the waste ball reservoir, and means for returning all of the closed closures to open position.

20. In a ball gaine, the combination with an inclined playing board, a plurality of balls, an impact member for the balls and a coin receiving means, of a playing area on the board and having diagonally arranged playing stations arranged in a plurality of rows, turn-table members operatively associated with certain playing stations in an upper row for directional diversion of a ball from one turn-table provided station to either of two diagonal stations in the next lower row, certain of said stations in a lower row having openings therein for ball passage, tiltable closures for said opening and operable by ball engagement to close the same, means operatively associated with the coin receiving means andV normally oonstrained toward one position and movable by the coin receiving means into another position, means for turning said turn-table members near the end of the last mentioned movement of the coin receiving means for releasing all balls retained on the turn-table provided squares, and means operable by said means operatively associated with the coin receiving means and near the end of the return movement due to the constraint for tilting all of the closed closures into open position for resetting the playing board for new play-following release of all balls from the playing area.

21. In a ball game, the combinationwith an inclined playing board, a plurality of balls, and an impact member for the balls, of a playing area on the board having diagonally arranged playing stations arranged in a plurality of rows, passageways leading from playing square to playing square in successive rows, certain of said passageways intersecting at playing stations, passageways to and from side playing stations being angularly directed, and the lowermost passage way thereof Vintersecting one of the certain passageways whereby a ball in the angular passageway is sumciently retarded relative to a ball in the passageway so that ball interference at the intersection is prevented when two balls vare simultaneously released from travel in the last mentioned passageways.

JACOB P. HAMEETMAN. 

